A prevalence survey was conducted to establish baseline and comparable data on the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in broiler intestines and on broiler carcasses in Israel. Fifty five slaughter batches were sampled over a 14-month period from January 2015 until February 2016. Campylobacter spp. were detected in the caeca samples from 49 (89.1%, 95% CI (Confidence Interval) 80.9-97.3) of the 55 slaughter batches and on 35 (63.6%, 95% CI 50.9-76.4) of the 55 carcasses. The sampled farms represent 7.6% of the broiler farms in Israel. Of the Campylobacter isolates from both caeca and carcass samples, 40% were identified as C. coli, 33% as C. jejuni and 27% as both C. coli and C. jejuni. In order to reduce the incidence rate of campylobacteriosis in the human population, mitigation strategies must focus on reduction of the Campylobacter spp. concentration in primary production and contamination reduction during processing.

The microscopic features of a spontaneous uterine granular cell tumour in a Fischer 344 rat are described. The location of the tumour is novel for the rat. The neoplasm is characterized by the presence of cells with cytoplasmic granules which were PAS positive and diastase resistant. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry results are presented and the origin of the tumour is discussed.

The report consists of a cytomorphological and ultrastructural description of a spontaneous rete testis adenocarcinoma observed in a 108-week-old Fischer 344 rat. This tumour is considered to be very rare in rats. Crucial evidence for the malignancy of this tumour was the penetration of a neoplastic gland into the tunica albuginea.

Oxodipine, a new calcium channel blocker, induced gingival hyperplasia in rats. This is the first time that a calcium channel blocker has been documented as resulting in gingival hyperplasia in rats. In contrast to diphenylhydantoin, the hyperplastic changes induced by oxodipine were not precipitated by any prior irritation. The histology consisted of purely fibroblastic proliferation without infiltrate of inflammatory cells.

Exposure of dogs to oxodipine resulted in gingival hyperplastic changes, which have been described for both man and laboratory animals. Agents causing this phenomenon include nifedipine (Ramon et al 1984), diphenylhydantoin (Kimball 1939; Rost and Baker 1978), cyclosporin A (Rateitschak-Pluss et al 1983) and valproic acid (Syrjamen and Syrjamen 1979). The present study demonstrates that regression of the gingival hyperplastic changes takes place when the drug is discontinued for a period of 2 months.

This study investigated a technique for the quantification of hemosiderin layed down in the spleen. The model used was the rat to which the urea-based herbicide chlortoluran was fed for 90 days. There was good correlation between hematological, biochemical, histological and image analytical techniques when splenic hemosiderosis was of a moderate to severe degree. Where hemosiderosis was of a slight nature, only the technique of image analysis was able to detect the on-going changes.

Three groups of Fischer 344 rats were fed Merpafol (Makhteshim, Israel), an agricultural fungicide, in increasing concentrations for a period of 2 years. A control group was maintained under identical conditions, but without the addition of the fungicide in the diet. A range of nonneoplastic and neoplastic lesions were observed in the kidneys of rats fed Merpafol. The histogenesis of the renal tumors is discussed in relation to chemical-induced epithelial hyperplasia and cystic tubular dilation. Comparative aspects of renal cyst development and carcinoma in humans are also discussed.

Subchronic oral exposure of dogs to Oxodipine, a new calcium channel blocker of the dihydropyridine-type, resulted in dose-related gingival hyperplastic changes. The doses at which an effect was elicited were 24 and 73 times the intended therapeutic dose for man. The effeçts were first noted after 7 weeks of treatment, and were limited to the high and intermediate dose groups of both sexes. Macroscopically, a generalized enlargement of the maxillary and mandibular facial and lingual gingivae were noted. The histological changes were similar to those described in man for Nifedipine and hydantoin-related drugs. An increase in the activity of alkaline phosphatase and a decrease in alanine aminotransferase was demonstrated. This article is the first to describe gingival hyperplasia in dogs induced in a dose-dependent manner by a calcium channel blocker.

Two epidermoid cysts are described in mice, one intracranial, in the fourth ventricle and the other in the thoracic spinal canal. They were lined by compressed squamous epithelium and contained keratinaceous squamae. These incidental findings suggest that such cysts might be detected more often if more extensive examinations of the CNS were carried out in group studies.